FBI Joining Probe Of Long Island 'Swatting' Hoax Call
LONG BEACH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The FBI is joining an investigation into a hoax call on Long Island.
Long Beach Police Commissioner Michael Tangney said more than 60 heavily armed officers went to a home Tuesday on Laurelton Boulevard. They had received a fake call that someone killed his mother and brother there.
Officers from several departments as well as SWAT teams and hostage negotiators responded to the scene, but when police entered the home, they found everyone inside safe and unharmed.
Police said the caller may have been upset while playing the online video game "Call of Duty" against a 17-year-old opponent at the house.
"They see what they can do about getting the police response, helicopters, etc. -- SWAT response," Long Beach Police Lt. Edward Ryan told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond.
Tangney said it is apparently part of a phenomenon known as "Swatting.'' He said gamers have a points system. A hoaxer gets more points depending on the level of police response.
"While the gamers may be playing in a world of fantasy, we deal with nothing but hardcore reality. we take it very seriously. there was no way to know that if, in fact, it was any kind of a hoax," Ryan told Diamond.
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice issued a statement Wednesday vowing to hold anyone placing the phony calls accountable while seeking restitution for the cost of a massive emergency response. Tuesday's response cost an estimated $100,000, officials said.
"Incidents like this are a dangerous and outrageous waste of law enforcement resources and taxpayer dollars," she said. "Through a collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we will use every tool we have to track down whoever threatens public safety like this. 'Swatting' is a serious crime that endangers first responders and those in legitimate need of their help."
Homes of celebrities have been targeted as well as other locations.
Authorities are searching for the person who placed the call and Tangney said the teen has been cooperative with the investigation.
"He has given us some property that we are using to solve the crime and he couldn't be more helpful," Tangney told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera.
Tangney said the caller, who could be anywhere in the world, used Skype to phone in the bogus report to police.
"We don't know who the fictitious caller is, but we do have names of the people that our victim was playing with," Tangney said.
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